A Study on Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Potential of <I>Biophytum sensitivum</I> in Three Different Solvents

Abstract

Biophytum sensitivum , a very small flowering plant is belongs to the family Oxalidaceae. It is a perennial herb of Indian origin. It used for chest complaints, convulsions, cramps and inflammatory tumours. The objective of the study is to screen phytochemicals, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activity of the plant. The crude plant material ethanolic and chloroformic extract was prepared by using in a soxhlet apparatus. Percentage yield of ethanolic, chloroformic and aqueous extract of the plant extract is 8.35%, 4.25% and 3.9% respectively. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannin, saponin, phenol, flavonoid, alkaloid and steroid in the ethanolic extract. Chloroformic extract contain tannin, phenol, alkaloid and steroid. Aqueous extract showed the presence of tannin, anthraquinone, phenol, flavonoid and alkaloid. Optical density method and well diffusion method are used for the analysis of antibacterial activity. Ethanolic extract of Biophytum sensitivum was found to be effective against Bacillus thuringiensis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomoas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli . The antifungal activity of the extract was checked by well diffusion method and growth inhibitory assay. The results showed inhibition of the growth of Aspergillus niger . The three extracts of B. sensitivum showed strong hydroxy radical scavenging, reducing power, total antioxidant capacity and DPPH activities. Thus they can be used in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by resistant microbes.